The effect of lavender scent recommended to the elderly on sleep quality and physical balance: A randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: This study is a randomized controlled pre-test post-test parallel-group study to examine the effect of lavender scent recommended to the elderly on sleep quality and physical balance. METHOD: The study is a randomized controlled study with a pretest-posttest design. The sample group consisted of a total of 90 elderly individuals; 45 in the intervention group and 45 in the control group. The pre-test and post-test data collection tools were the Personal Information Form, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and Berg Balance Scale (BBS). The elderly included in the lavender group were asked to sleep with lavender pouches in their pillows for a month. Descriptive analyses, t tests, chi-square, Wilcoxon, Mann Whitney U, and Fisher Exact tests were used in data analysis. The study was registered at Clinical Trials with the protocol number NCT05377697. FINDINGS: In the lavender group, the PSQI Sleep Quality score was 1.37±0.68 in the pre-test and 0.86±0.58 in the post-test, the PSQI Sleep Latency score was 1.53±1.01 in the pre-test and 0.95±0.76 in the post-test, and the PSQI total score was 6.11±2.86 in the pre-test and 4.33±2.07 in the post-test (p < 0.05). In the lavender group, the BBS score increased from 38.31±11.84 in the pre-test to 41.48±10.82 in the post-test, and the difference was statistically significant. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS: In the study, it was determined that lavender scent applied to elderly individuals decreased sleep latency and improved sleep quality and was associated with improved balance outcomes. It was seen that lavender may be effective in reducing sleep and balance problems frequently experienced in elderly individuals.